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Allahabad High Court

PINKEE KUMARI AND ANOTHERversusSTATE OF UTTAR PRADESH AND 3 OTHERS

Decided

Holding

Major individuals living together in a live-in relationship, even without marriage, have a fundamental right to life and personal liberty under Article 21, and the State is duty-bound to protect their peaceful existence from interference.

Summary

Petitioners Pinkee Kumari and another, both major and unmarried, are living in a live-in relationship and filed a writ petition under Article 226 seeking a mandamus directing the State not to interfere in their peaceful life and to provide protection. They alleged that the private respondent and family members were annoyed and were threatening and harassing them, creating a serious danger to their lives. The Court noted that the issue was already dealt with in Akanksha and Another vs. State of U.P. and Three Others, Writ-C No. 35171 of 2025, decided on 17.12.2025, and that the facts were similar. It held that once major individuals choose their partner, no family member or other person can object or hinder their peaceful existence, and the State is constitutionally bound to protect life and liberty. The Court observed that the right to life under Article 21 stands on a higher pedestal regardless of whether a person is minor or major, married or unmarried, and that the absence of solemnized marriage does not deprive them of fundamental rights. The petitioners were permitted to live together peacefully, and police authorities were directed to provide protection upon being satisfied of their majority and free will. The petition was disposed of with directions, including the option of an ossification test where documentary proof of age is unavailable for rural or illiterate/semi-literate persons.

Issues considered

  • Whether major unmarried persons living in a live-in relationship are entitled to protection of their life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution of India?
  • Whether the State and police authorities can be directed to protect such a couple from interference by family members or private respondents?
  • Whether the absence of a solemnized marriage deprives major individuals in a live-in relationship of their fundamental rights?

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • Live-in relationship
  • Article 21
  • Right to life and personal liberty
  • Police protection
  • Writ of mandamus
  • Major
  • Fundamental rights
  • Ossification test

Judgment

         HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
                        WRIT - C No. - 36694 of 2026

Pinkee Kumari And Another
                                                            .....Petitioner(s)
                                   Versus

State Of Uttar Pradesh And 3 Others
                                                          .....Respondent(s)

Counsel for Petitioner(s)       : Trilok Nath Dubey, Vineet Singh
                                  Parmar
Counsel for Respondent(s)       : C.S.C.

Court No. - 75
                 HON'BLE DR. GAUTAM CHOWDHARY, J.

1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners, learned Standing Counsel for
the State-respondents and perused the material on record.

2. By means of the present writ petition, the petitioners have prayed for a
writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents not to interfere
in their peaceful life and also for a direction to provide protection.

3. It is stated by the learned counsel for the petitioners that both the
petitioners are major. They are unmarried and are staying in a live-in
relationship. Further, it is stated that private respondent and other family
members have got annoyed and there is serious danger to their lives as
they are being threatened and harassed. Hence, the petitioners have filed
this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for
issuance of a direction upon the Police Authorities to protect their life
from the private respondents.

4. The issue involved in the present petition has already been dealt with in
Writ-C No. 35171 of 2025 (Akanksha and Another vs. State of U.P.
and Three Others), decided on 17.12.2025. The facts of the present case
is similar to the facts of Akanksha (supra). Therefore the present writ
petition is being disposed of in the following terms.

5. Once an individual, who is a major, has chosen his/her partner, it is not
for any other person, be it a family member, to object and cause a
hindrance to their peaceful existence. It is the bounden duty of the State,
as per the Constitutional obligations casted upon it, to protect the life and
                                                       WRIC No. 36694 of 2026
                               2


liberty of every citizen. Right to human life is to be treated on much
higher pedestal, regardless of a citizen being minor or major, married or
unmarried. Mere fact that the petitioners have not solemnized marriage,
would not deprive them of their fundamental right as envisaged in the
Constitution of India being citizens of India. This Court has no hesitation
to hold that the Constitutional's fundamental right under Article 21 of the
Constitution of India stands on a much higher pedestal. Being sacrosanct,
under the Constitutional scheme it must be protected, regardless of the
solemnization of marriage or even the absence of any marriage between
the parties.

6. The petitioners herein, who are major, have taken a decision to reside
together without the sanctity of the marriage and it is not for the Courts to
judge them on their decision. If the petitioners herein have not committed
any offence, this Court sees no reason as to why their prayer for grant of
protection cannot be acceded to.

7. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is
of the view that the petitioners are at liberty to live together peacefully
and no person shall be permitted to interfere in their peaceful living. As
right to life is a fundamental life ensured under Article 21 of the
Constitution wherein it is provided that no person shall be deprived of his
right to life and personal liberty except according to procedure established
by law.

8. In case, any disturbance is caused in the peaceful living of the
petitioners, the petitioners shall approach the Commissioner of
Police/SSP/SP concerned with certified copy of this order and the Police
Officer after being satisfied that the petitioners are major and willingly
living together, will provide immediate protection to the petitioners. If the
petitioners are educated and they produce their educational certificates
and other certificates admissible under law, from which it is evident that
they have attained the majority and they are living with their free will
then no Police Officer shall take any coercive action against them unless
an F.I.R. is registered against them in respect of any offence whatsoever.
If they do not have any documentary proof regarding age and they come
from rural background and or illiterate/semi-literate, the Police Officer
can subject such boy or girl to ossification test to verify their correct age
                                                                                         WRIC No. 36694 of 2026
                                                                  3


                                    and he can also follow the other procedure permissible under the law.

                                    9. With the aforesaid observations/directions, the instant petition is
                                    disposed off.


                                                                                (Dr. Gautam Chowdhary,J.)
                                    September 14, 2026
                                    S.Ali




Digitally signed by :-
SHAUKAT ALI
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad


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